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Chapter 5

           InDenísov’spartyheheldapeculiarandexceptionalposition.Whenanythingparticularlydifficultornastyhadtobedone—topushacartoutofthemudwithone’sshoulders,pullahorseoutofaswampbyitstail,skinit,slinkinamongtheFrench,orwalkmorethanthirtymilesinaday—everybodypointedlaughinglyatTíkhon.

           “Itwon’thurtthatdevil—he’sasstrongasahorse!”theysaidofhim.

           OnceaFrenchmanTíkhonwastryingtocapturefiredapistolathimandshothiminthefleshypartoftheback.Thatwound(whichTíkhontreatedonlywithinternalandexternalapplicationsofvodka)wasthesubjectoftheliveliestjokesbythewholedetachment—jokesinwhichTíkhonreadilyjoined.

           “Hallo,mate!Neveragain?Gaveyouatwist?”theCossackswouldbanterhim.AndTíkhon,purposelywrithingandmakingfaces,pretendedtobeangryandsworeattheFrenchwiththefunniestcurses.TheonlyeffectofthisincidentonTíkhonwasthatafterbeingwoundedheseldombroughtinprisoners.

           Hewasthebravestandmostusefulmanintheparty.Noonefoundmoreopportunitiesforattacking,noonecapturedorkilledmoreFrenchmen,andconsequentlyhewasmadethebuffoonofalltheCossacksandhussarsandwillinglyacceptedthatrole.NowhehadbeensentbyDenísovovernighttoShámshevotocapturea“tongue.”ButwhetherbecausehehadnotbeencontenttotakeonlyoneFrenchmanorbecausehehadsleptthroughthenight,hehadcreptbydayintosomebushesrightamongtheFrenchand,asDenísovhadwitnessedfromabove,hadbeendetectedbythem.

           

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